Images

Is the scientific name implies (helianthus = sunflowers), Andrena helianthi is a sunflower specialist. Not just the annual sunflower, commonly now raised to produce sunflower seed and sunflower oil, but also the many species of perennials and flowers, which are well deserving of spots in our gardens.

Is the scientific name implies (helianthus = sunflowers), Andrena helianthi is a sunflower specialist. Not just the annual sunflower, commonly now raised to produce sunflower seed and sunflower oil, but also the many species of perennials and flowers, which are well deserving of spots in our gardens.

Connecticut, Tracy Zarillo Collector

Echinacea. This medicinal plant is widely planted and tinkered with by gardeners and breeders. But, it really is a prairie species and when in its habitat, like the Badlands, big bees like to forage on it. Hey, look, here's one in this picture! Andrena helianthiformis. I suppose this means "looks like A. helianthus, but...is not" in Latin.

This large Andrena of the prairies is a specialist bee on Sunflowers as one can see from the name. Captured in Badlands National Park and Photograph Taken by Aaman MengisCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

This large Andrena of the prairies is a specialist bee on Sunflowers as one can see from the name. Captured in Badlands National Park and Photograph Taken by Aaman MengisCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200

Maryland, Anne Arundel County

Hardy County, West Virginia

More from Yosemite National Park. Hmmm, that color, so blue, reminds me of famously blue bees such as Ceratina and Osmia...but, in this case, we are looking at Andrena chapmanae...one of the rare Andrena that are a strong metallic blue. I have to say that the combination of this midnight blue and deeply dark brown is very attractive.

More from Yosemite National Park. Hmmm, that color, so blue, reminds me of famously blue bees such as Ceratina and Osmia...but, in this case, we are looking at Andrena chapmanae...one of the rare Andrena that are a strong metallic blue. I have to say that the combination of this midnight blue and deeply dark brown is very attractive.

An Andrena bee that knows how to dress. Black hairs throughout with fluorescent orange pollen carrying hairs and a topmast of off-white. This is a northern / arctic species that occurs worldwide. Recent discoveries have shown its distribution extends to high elevations in West Virginia (thank you Jane).This specimen is from Maine (thank you Alison).

Jackson County, South Dakota, Badlands National Park

Jackson County, South Dakota, Badlands National Park

Leadplant lover. This bee species is a pollen specialist on Amorpha and was collected in Badlands National Park of South Dakota. Photographed by interns Joyce and ColbyCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Leadplant lover. This bee species is a pollen specialist on Amorpha and was collected in Badlands National Park of South Dakota. Photographed by interns Joyce and ColbyCanon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200, link to a .pdf of our set up is located in our profile

Andrena cragini, male, new species record for South Dakota from Badlands National Park as part of a park wide inventory, this small Andrena species appears to be a Leadplant pollen specialist Joyce, Colby, and Amber

Another shot of Andrena cressonii for the files..

This is a west coast Andrena....found, in this case, in Redwoods National Park right along the coast. I hope to get some more shots of the back and sides which have lovely patches of green hairs, an unusual color for bees in North America.

The male of the previous shot, note the metallic blue overtones to the integument (skin) of this bee....an uncommon characteristic in the genus Andrena. Also note the stacking artifact where the antennae arches across the top of the head. This can be corrected for in the stacking process, but, frankly, we don't have the time and few people notice such things.

Andrena distans...this girl has been dipping into the wild geranium pollen to feed her babies. Photograph by Dejen Mengis.

Andrena erythronii, female